Interim Updates

The Education and Local Government Interim Committee met on March 22 and 23, handling a wide variety of K-12 and postsecondary education matters, as well as continuing to monitor developing options for amending the subdivision for lease or rent exemption statutes.

The Districting and Apportionment Commission continues to travel the state to take public comment about the five proposed redistricting plans. In late March and early April, the commissioners heard from people in Butte, Helena, Lewistown, and Bozeman. Attendance at each hearing was exceptional, with most meetings being standing room only.

The Children, Families, Health, and Human Services Interim Committee will continue its study of childhood trauma in May, with a focus on learning more about how child abuse and neglect cases are handled in Montana.

Attention MACo Members: The Children, Families, Health & Human Services Interim Committee is requesting public comment. They are reviewing Advisory councils and agency reports to determine if they should be retained, eliminated or revised. Counties are involved and/or affected by these councils/boards. Click the "readmore" link below to view the entities and reports being analyzed.

The Children, Families, Health, and Human Services Interim Committee is seeking public comment on several councils created in law to serve in an advisory role to the Department of Public Health and Human Services. The committee will review the work of the advisory groups at its May 14 meeting.

A new report series is available to help the public determine how their county might be affected by several proposed redistricting plans for redrawn state House districts. The reports combine maps and basic population data to highlight the options being considered by the Districting Commission. Each report includes the county's population as of the 2010 Census, maps of the county under each proposed redistricting plan, and various statistics about the makeup and population of each proposed district in the county.

As per the Montana Local County Weed Act, 7-22-2120 Funding - Reporting Requirements - Emergency Exemption, Section 1 - Subsection (a) (b) and (c), each county is required to provide an update of their County Weed Management Plan to the Montana Department of Agriculture. If a county has recently updated their plan, and have the current state weed list included, that county is asked to please send a letter stating that they are operating under their current plan for 2012 through 2014. If a county is in the process of updating their management plan, that county is asked to please be sure to include the current state list.

Attached above is a list of legislative candidates as of the close of filing yesterday. It is color coded to show incumbents, party affiliation, and unopposed candidates. Those candidates are now eligible to request bill drafts from legislative services. There will be at least 29 new House members and 11 Senators in 2013.

The use of exempt wells in subdivisions is important to every county in the state, not just counties with subdivision activity. The Water Policy Interim Committee will hold its next meeting on March 6, 2012, in room 172 of the State Capitol, to discuss a number of items including the issue of exempt wells required by House Bill No. 602.